US launch

Medline’s SIM Technologically Transforms Continence Management, Enhances Resident Quality Care

SIM advanced technology automates continence assessment; helps reduce labor and lower product cost

Thursday, June 05, 2014
MUNDELEIN, Ill., June 5, 2014 —People’s lives have been radically transformed through technology and digital innovation. Yet, the most precious part of our existence – our health – has been largely unaffected, until now. Technology can now help patients access their medical information, monitor their vital signs and take tests at home.

Medline Industries, Inc., a leading global medical supply company, is leading the way in technology in healthcare with the introduction of SIM® (Smart Incontinence Management), a revolutionary method for assessing and managing the continence needs of residents in long-term care facilities. Medline is launching SIM at the National Association Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care (NADONA) in Anaheim, Calif., June 7-11 (booth 511).

SIM is designed to help the more than 750,000 residents in America’s skilled nursing facilities who suffer from incontinence by providing clinical staff more reliable data on their residents’ toileting habits, which leads to better care planning and improved outcomes. SIM captures information through a technologically advanced sensor inserted in a specially designed continence liner. The sensor is connected to a wifi network, which remotely monitors the voiding patterns of the resident over a 72 hour assessment period. All events are captured and analyzed by SIM software, providing caregivers with an accurate profile of the resident’s continence trends. SIM also electronically captures notes and additional observations from the caregivers on a computer tablet, which is also used to develop the resident’s care plan.

“The SIM technology replaces the old manual assessment process with an automated system that gives us a more accurate measurement of the resident’s continence episodes,” said Kari Lazzarotto, RN, restorative/MDS coordinator at Mendota Lutheran Home based in Mendota, Ill. “This results in better care planning and makes continence management more dignified for our residents and provides them a better quality of life.”
The information from SIM helps the caregiver create a more comprehensive, accurate care plan, specific to the resident, including a more precise ongoing toileting schedule and recommendations for appropriate continent products. This helps ensure that the resident receives the proper continence products, which leads to a more satisfied and comfortable resident, as well as reduced product utilization and cost for the facility.

According to a study conducted at 12 skilled nursing facilities in Australia, SIM achieved several significant, measurable labor and cost saving benefits. During the 72 hour assessment period, SIM helped reduce staff labor costs by 35 percent when compared to the manual process of monitoring a patient for incontinent episodes, including the time it took to write down additional notes on a paper form versus capturing the data on a computer tablet in a simple, customized software program. Also, annual product cost saving averaged 25 percent because SIM helped the staff select more appropriate continence products based on the data from the assessment period, including urinary output, mobility, cognition, height and weight. Finally, it was estimated that the amount of time the resident went to the toilet was reduced by more than 20 percent because the SIM assessment more accurately predicted the resident’s toileting needs versus the manual approach, which had more guesswork involved in the care planning schedule.

“SIM improves the efficiency of our staff because it not only captures data electronically,” said Lazzarotto. “It helps us develop evidence-based care plans that include reliable toileting schedules that reduce the work load for our staff and ensures our residents receive the best care possible.”

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